Navasota coach Lee Fedora is interviewed after defeating La Marque in a high school Class 3A Division II football playoff action at Woodforest Bank Stadium Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, in Shenandoah. Navasota won ... more

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Staff

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Coach Les Fedora puts defending 3A state champion Navasota through practice Tuesday at Rattler Stadium. Playing Navasota there or on the road has been the pits for opponents, who have been outscored 207-7.

Coach Les Fedora puts defending 3A state champion Navasota through practice Tuesday at Rattler Stadium. Playing Navasota there or on the road has been the pits for opponents, who have been outscored 207-7.

Photo: J. Patric Schneider, Freelance

Image 3 of 3

Coach Lee Fedora puts defending 3A state champion Navasota through practice Tuesday at Rattler Stadium. Playing Navasota there or on the road has been the pits for opponents, who have been outscored 207-7.

Coach Lee Fedora puts defending 3A state champion Navasota through practice Tuesday at Rattler Stadium. Playing Navasota there or on the road has been the pits for opponents, who have been outscored 207-7.

Photo: J. Patric Schneider, Freelance

Complacency not part of plan for Navasota

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On the first day of football practice in August, Navasota coach Lee Fedora stated the obvious, but his message was anything but.

Last year was phenomenal, Fedora said to his players. They all knew that, with many returning from last season's undefeated Class 3A state championship squad.

The only points the Rattlers have surrendered came on a kickoff return in a season-opening win over Willis. Through four games last season, Navasota had outscored its opponents 172-27. While this year's team has scored more and given up less, Fedora said it's too soon to compare the two teams.

"It's hard to say you have a better team this year when last year the team went 16-0," Fedora said. "These kids have worked hard. We're very pleased with where we're at right now."

Navasota has done it despite heavy turnover. Quarterback Kadarius Baker, running back Xavier Creeks, and recievers Austin Collins and Solomon McGinty all graduated. Navasota has eight new starters on offense.

Youth served on offense

Under the direction of sophomore quarterback Shelton Eppler, the offense hasn't missed a beat. The Rattlers have rushed for 1,068 yards and passed for 1,017. The new names leading the offense are running backs Derrion Randle and Lamarquis Jefferson, and receivers Jerbrell Lipscomp and Tren'Davion Dickson.

Fedora said he had no reservations with putting a sophomore in charge of the high-powered offense, especially considering Eppler's poise.

"He doesn't get frustrated when things go bad," Fedora said. "He understands my mentality for quarterbacks is that when things go wrong, it's nobody's fault but the quarterback. You have to take responsibility."

As great as the offense has been in recent years, the defense might be Navasota's biggest asset this season. Defensive end Jordan Wells is the leader after earning all-state first-team honors last season. His reputation precedes him so much that he has faced plenty of triple teams this season. Despite that, he already has 15 tackles for loss.

Cory Imhoff leads the team with 48 tackles. Deiontte Taylor and Lipscomp also are returning defensive players.

Early success aside, Fedora still sees room for improvement. The Rattlers could tackle better and they could drop fewer passes. They're still trying to perfect their kicking game, too.

Working overtime

They'll face their first big test Friday night when they host Fairfield (4-0), which is greatly improved from last season. The Eagles already have scored 235 points.

If any team is prepared for such a strong opponent, it's Navasota, which has been to the playoffs and advanced once there six years in a row.

"We've had a lot of extra games," Fedora said. "These kids have been in extra practices. They have a routine, so they're a little bit further ahead than most young kids normally would be."